PARALYMPICS Double Gold for Ireland's Jason Smyth as he takes 200m Paralympics Title in New World Record Time

Ireland's Jason Smyth achieved an amazing golden double tonight in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, winning Paralympic gold for the second time this week. The visually impaired athlete won the 200m (T13) in front of 91,000 spectators, in a new world record time; 21.43sec, remarkably destroying the mark he set in qualifying yesterday by a massive 0.38 of a second.

Speaking after the event Smyth said "Things went very well, I am very pleased. After the false start I knew I had a good start but had to do it again. I had to attack the bend to put the guys under pressure; it's where I would be the strongest. The bend went well and I had a good lead into the straight. This is what the whole year has been about, right for this moment and this success. It went all to plan and it's such a relief. So many people have put in so much effort. It's great for the people around me that it has paid off. I am looking for forward to going home, to put the legs up for a couple of weeks!"

After his 100m gold on Saturday the Derry athlete produced his fourth world record in four races at these Games winning this second gold in 21.43sec, which is an astonishing feat. The twenty one year old now holds the Paralympic title, world title, and Paralympic and world records in the 100m and 200m (T13 category for athletes with visual impairment) and now ranks up there as one of Ireland's greatest athletes, and all in his first ever Paralympic Games.

As with the 100m on Saturday night Alexey Labzin of Russia was the one to get closest to Ireland's Smyth but in reality never challenged the Irishman, finishing second again in a time of 21.87sec; 0.45 of a second behind the Derry sprinter. Vugar Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan was the bronze medalist in a time of 22 seconds flat; a season's best for him.

The Irish camp had an anxious wait ahead of the beginning of Smyth's final tonight with worry over a hamstring niggle he picked up in yesterday's heat compounded by a thunder and rainstorm in the preceding hour of the race. With his visual impairment; Stargardts, the Irish athlete often has difficulty seeing the track lines in wet conditions but tonight found the conditions had cleared up sufficiently by the time his race got underway. After a false start by one of the other competitors unsettling the nerves, Smyth set himself in the blocks and blasted around the bend at the second time of asking to take a commanding lead which he held to the end.

About the conditions Smyth said: "The glare on the track wasn't too bad today after the rain so it wasn't really a problem thankfully."

In a gesture that says everything about this Irish team, Smyth on his lap of honour stopped to console and embrace a fellow Irish athlete; Orla Barry, who had not been so fortunate on the field of play, a gesture that typifies the man.

In the crowded mixed zone after the race Jason's full time coach Stephen Maguire, who deserves so much of the credit for getting Smyth to this place in his career said; "I don't know what to think. I thought I'd be jumping around but in fact I am just relieved he made it through in one piece. Four world records in four races, we couldn't have dreamt of anything like that. That was the goal in October time when we set out our plan for these races. Thankfully the plan has stuck and has worked; it's just incredible. Ultimately he will be a 200m and 400m guy by the time he gets to London but let's just savour this first!"

It was truly fitting that Smyth's sensational performance was the final action of these Games for Team Ireland. Jason's gold was the fifth Irish medal of these Games; a remarkable haul by the best prepared Irish Paralympic team ever.


One of Ireland's most experienced Paralympians; Gay Shelly got the medal rush underway in the opening week claiming bronze in the individual Boccia competition. Teenager Michael McKillop in only his first Paralympic Games won gold the following evening on the track in the 800m (T37), also in world record time. Smyth was next to star taking gold in the 100m in world record time and only on Sunday fourteen year old Darragh McDonald exceeded all expectations by winning silver in the pool, in the 400m freestyle (S6) in a personal best time.


In the 7-a-side football Ireland faced their old rivals, the Netherlands, in the 5th/6th place play off. With the match promising to be a competitive, free flowing affair, play opened with some nervous exchanges between the two teams. On five minutes the Netherlands opened their account. The Irish team maintained composure and drew level two minutes later with a fine shot from Cork man Finbar O'Riordan.

Paul Cassin's men continued their attacking play and were rewarded with a fine goal on 11 minutes by Gary Messett to go into a 2-1 lead. Play continued with some good passing through midfield by both sides, when, on 24 minutes, the Netherlands pulled level (2-2). On the stroke of half time the Dutch went in to the lead 3-2 unfortunately due in part to some soft Irish defending (2-3).

The Dutch side was brightest in the opening period of the second half making in 4-2 after eight minutes. The Dutch continued to gain the upper hand but not without some good attacking play from the Irish team. Alan O'Hara was viciously taken down just outside the area but the resulting free kick went agonizingly wide. Team captain Aidan Brennan was substituted for Paul Dollard on 48mins and with the play pretty open, the Dutch team continued to make in roads on the Irish goal. Substitute Irish keeper, Brian McGillivary made several stunning saves to keep the Irish team within shouting distance.

With more good link play between Luke Evans in midfield and O'Riordan up front, the Irish continued to press on but could not close the gap. The encounter finished 4-2 to the Dutch, leaving Ireland in sixth place overall at these Games; an improvement of two places on their eighth finish in Athens, which was their stated target coming to Beijing.

Afterwards Irish captain Aidan Brennan said: "We went out there with great team spirit again; gave it a real go. The 4-2 result is a bit flattering to the Dutch I think; two late goals in the first half kind of upset us but in the second half we went out again and gave it everything; we just came up short on the day".

He continued: "I suppose we are pleased with our Games; it's been a rollercoaster in Beijing; great fans, great participation. The Chinese people just drove us that bit extra; full crowds every day, it was brilliant. We gave it our all. The character of the team really has shone through here. We came out here with a game plan and that was upset by events off the pitch; we had to change our strategy mid competition and in fairness every one of the squad; every man bought into that. We got sixth place using our new strategy with minimal time to work on it , so we'll look back and think what could have been but we drove on regardless and we kept going, and sixth place we'll have to take."

Tralee's Roy Guerin, was in action at the Bird's Nest stadium this morning competing in his only event, the 100m (T53 Class). It has been a long wait for the Tralee based sprinter who finished sixth in his heat in a time of 16.59secs. The time was not sufficient to progress to the final and Guerin said "I did not perform as I should have. That is racing and I am disappointed not to have made the final".

Also this evening in the Bird's Nest Orla Barry from Ladysbridge in Cork was competing in the discus competition (F57/58 Class. Barry threw a best distance of 27.08metres to finish fifth in the final. Barry's distance of 27.08meters was her second longest throw ever in competition but unfortunately the Paralympic debutant will not remember this event fondly as she fouled all three of her final throws to miss out on climbing the final rankings.

In the mixed zone after the event, surrounded by team mates and coaches, Barry was too upset to comment but at the age of twenty-one, this was a strong performance that augers well for the future.

The Irish team will arrive into Dublin airport on Friday evening (19th Sep) at 6.20pm on KLM flight KL3159 from Amsterdam for a triumphant homecoming. The media reception for the team will take place at approx 7pm with the team expected into the main arrivals hall after approx 7.30pm. Details will be confirmed in the coming couple of days.

For Further Information contact the press officers to the Irish team:
Sinéad McElroy, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie 087-6338512 or 008613911678098
John Fulham, communications@pcireland.ie 087-2709182 or 008613911678366